Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has opined that the team management can help nurture star bowler Mohammed Siraj for the 2027 World Cup and ensure that he fills Mohammed Shami's boots for the marquee event. Siraj is a part of India's 15-member squad for India's upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, and is likely to make it to the World Cup, to be held in Africa.
The cricketer-turned-commentator complimented Siraj's prowess in red-ball cricket and urged the pacer to be picked more consistently
in 50-over internationals. The Baroda-born also felt Siraj could be the lead bowler for India for when tearaway star Jasprit Bumrah is not available in the eventual line-up. Notably, Siraj recently played domestic for Hyderabad, and picked 14 wickets across seven white-ball encounters.
"Siraj is now a senior bowler, he comes into that category now. Sure, he's brilliant in Tests, but if he's a regular new-ball bowler in ODIs, then we can expect him to take on Shami's role in the 2027 World Cup. We need at least three good, quality, solid, fast bowlers in South Africa, and Bumrah picks and chooses games, and has not played a single ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, so we need to keep other bowlers ready in case there's an injury," Irfan told in a video on his YouTube channel.
Rana or Arshdeep to make way for Kuldeep, believes Irfan
Other than giving his prediction for the three-match series against the BlackCaps, the former India all-rounder felt one either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh may be seen sacrificing their position for the left-arm wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav to come into the mix.
"One of the three frontline pacers might have to make way for Kuldeep Yadav, and I think it will be one of Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, because India already have batting till No.8. India are solid favorites in this series, so I hope that they don't win 2-1, but instead get a 3-0 result," he added.
India will play eight white-ball matches against New Zealand, including three one-dayers and five T20Is, before shifting their focus to the 2026 World Cup, which they'll be co-hosting with Sri Lanka across February and March.
